Parent Portal

Reporting a student as absent

Parents/carers must notify the school each day of an unplanned absence by phoning the schools 24-hour absence line by 8:30am or as soon as practically possible.

The absence line can be reached by calling 01536 513063 and selecting option 1.

When leaving a message please include:

students name
students form
reason for absence including type of illness
details of any steps taken (ie Doctor’s appointments, called NHS direct etc)
potential return date.

Students who are absent from school and we are unaware of the reason why will receive a message and email from the school to ask about the whereabouts of the student.

If no response is received from the message, we will then follow up by phone call.

Medical and dental appointments

We encourage parents/carers to make all medical and dental appointments out of school hours where possible. Where this is not possible, the pupil should be out of school for the minimum amount of time necessary.

Should you need to withdraw your child from school to attend a medical or dental appointment please email the Attendance Officer [email protected] in advance of the appointment to enable us to authorise the absence. If possible, please include a copy of the appointment confirmation.

Other term-time absence requests

Other term-time absence requests should be made in writing or on the form found below and emailed or posted/dropped off to the Attendance Officer [email protected]

Leave of absence request form

Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence to pupils during term time unless they consider there to be 'exceptional circumstances'.

When making a written request please include:

students name
students form
reason for absence and any evidence (appointment cards, evidence of exceptional circumstances)
date(s) of absence

Decisions with regards to whether absence is authorised or not will be confirmed in writing.

Examples of authorised and unauthorised absence include:

AUTHORISED

UNAUTHORISED

(unexplained or unjustified)

illness
emergency dental or medical appointments
days of religious observance
immediate family bereavement
family crisis
attending an interview
examinations or approved sporting activity
other exceptional circumstance approved by the Headteacher

looking after a brother, sister or unwell family members
birthdays
general trips: concerts, shopping, matches etc.
truancy
persistent minor illnesses without the support of medical evidence
absence attributed to illness over an extended period of time without accompanying medical evidence.
visits to relatives
collecting relatives
holidays
moving house
absence awaiting contact from the school with regards to alleged bullying incidents or SEND assistance.

SEND

Local Offer

From September 2014 Local Authorities (LA) and schools are required to publish and keep under review information about services they expect to be available for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) aged 0-25. This is called the ‘Local Offer’.

The intention of the Local Offer is to improve choice for families and will also be an important resource for parents in understanding the range of services and provision in the local area.

Further information about the Local Offer can be found on the Northamptonshire County Council website: https://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/

SEND Information Report

Welcome to our SEND Information Report which is part of Northamptonshire County Council’s Local Offer for children and young people with Special Educational Needs. This will provide details about how we implement our policy for children and young people with SEND.

At Southfield School we recognise that all students are entitled to a quality of provision that will enable them to achieve their potential. We believe in positive intervention, removing barriers to learning, raising expectations and levels of achievement and working in partnership with other agencies in order to provide a positive educational experience for all our students including those with a special educational need or disability.

Our school recognises there are particular groups of students whose circumstances require additional consideration by those who work with them to support their SEN.

There are now four broad areas of SEND, these are:

Communication and Interaction
This area of need includes children with Autism Spectrum Condition and those with Speech, Language and Communication Needs
Cognition and Learning
This includes children with Specific Learning Difficulties, Moderate Learning Difficulties, Severe Learning Difficulties and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties
Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties
This includes any students who have an emotional, social or mental health need that is impacting on their ability to learn
Sensory and/or Physical Difficulties
This area includes children with hearing impairment, visual impairment, multi-sensory impairment and physical difficulties.

If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail, please email Mrs Kate Burt: [email protected] to arrange an appointment.

Referring a child for a SEND assessment

Please remember that a parent/carer, teacher or any other educational professional at Southfield, plus of course any child them self can request an SEND assessment.
Should you wish to refer a child to our SENCO for an SEND assessment then please contact Mrs K Burt : [email protected]

A Guide to our provision

Southfield School

Southfield School is a girls secondary school for 11 – 18 years with a mixed 6th form offering students a personalised post-16 experience.

At the heart of everything we do is a belief that every young person has the ability to achieve great things, coupled with a desire to provide the highest standards in teaching and learning. We have high expectations of all our students and are dedicated to creating an inclusive school where every student can feel safe, enjoy and achieve.

See the full SEND Provision SEND Information Report at the bottom of this page

Academy Ethos & Values

Southfield School will create a learning environment where valuing and caring for the individual are at the centre of our priorities.

The focus is very much on providing learning opportunities which excites, motivates and challenges students and encourages lifelong learning and an interest in the world around them. We want students to be happy and able to realise their full potential whilst demonstrating diligence, self -discipline, good manners and a concern for others.

The School will take a student centered and personalised approach to learning which will recognise and value the skills and talents of each individual. The pervading culture of the School will be one in which every student feels that they can succeed and in which their aspiration to be lifelong learners will be supported and encouraged. In addition we believe in and are committed to the development of the whole child, nurturing their personal and social skills, sense of enquiry, as well as their resilience to face life's challenges.

Southfield School fully endorses the academic, vocational, social and moral development of students in such a way that they emerge as independent, responsible and co-operative young people, ready to make a positive contribution.

See the full SEND Provision SEND Information Report

Identification of SEN at our school

Our school identifies special educational needs in a variety of different ways namely:

Primary transition including attending EHCP review meetings, observation of students in primary settings and transitions visits
Information provided by professionals outside school such as ASD Outreach Team, GP’s, Educational Psychologists
Parental concerns and/pupil self-referral
Detailed screening and assessments upon entry
Subject teachers concerns/observations

If you have concerns your child may have special education needs please contact the SENDCO Mrs Kate Burt. [email protected]
See the full SEND Provision SEND Information Report

How we support students with special educational needs (SEN)

The SENDCO manages a team comprising of a deputy SENDCO, a part time specialist SEND teacher, a Teaching Assistant and a part time SEND Administrator. There are three Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTA’s) who hold a range of qualifications including NVQ Level 3. These are based in English, Maths and Science but liaise regularly with the SENDCO.

The emphasis is on Quality First teaching in the classroom and teachers are provided with detailed information sheets giving suggestions of how to support students with SEND.

Students in Y7 who did not make expected progress at KS2 access ‘catch-up’ sessions once a week run by the English and Maths departments. There is also a ‘Read On’ programme for years 7 and 8 to develop literacy skills.

The specialist SEND teacher supports a range of students on a one to one basis, particularly those with Social, Emotional and Mental health issues.

The support we put in place is dependent on the level of “need” of a student and where appropriate we adapt the learning environment.

See the full SEND Provision SEND Information Report

How we adapt our teaching for students with SEND

All staff at Southfield are aware of pupil’s special educational need and are given training and strategies to use in the classroom in order to meet the students’ needs through Quality First Teaching. Effective differentiation/personalisation will enable your child to participate fully in all aspects of learning to make the best possible progress.

See the full SEND Provision SEND Information Report

How we decide what resources to give to a student with SEN

The SENDCO works in conjunction with outside professionals, teachers and TAs to determine the level of need. TA support is allocated according to the level of need and the type of provision needed, as they are no longer quantified as ‘hours of support’. This is based on discussions and guidance from the local authority. The school budget may be used to target individuals.

We monitor the effectiveness of our SEND provision by regular monitoring, contact with Progress Leaders, Tutors, tracking and observations and also at Education Health and Care Plan review meetings.

See the full SEND Provision SEND Information Report

How we work with parents

In addition to the normal reporting arrangements to parents/carers, children and young people to discuss progress, to plan and review support, specific approaches and/or programmes we offer:

Annual review meetings, parent/carers meetings, email, parents evening
Contact with tutors

See the full SEND Provision SEND Information Report

Support we offer for Wellbeing

Our school offers pastoral, medical and social support to students by:

Tutors who oversees the well-being of your child on a daily basis along with a named member of staff for children with EHCP’s
Progress Leaders
Deputy Progress Leaders
Form tutors
Teaching Assistants and HLTAs
Student Services staff
Director of Health and Wellbeing
Mental Health first aiders
Education Healthcare Assistant – who offers medical advice and assistance and administers medicines as authorised and directed by parents/carers
School Nurse
Links with outside agencies
The PSHE and form time programme
Extra-curricular activities
Assemblies
PCSO

We encourage our students to contribute their views by discussing their concerns with the Students services Team, the student council or their tutor.

See the full SEND Provision SEND Information Report below

SEND information Report

Kettering Food Bank

The Shack Food Project

Green Patch Food Table

Kettering Muslim Association

Highfield Community Centre

Salvation Army

Community Fridge Project

Thrapston Food Bank